Camp Fire: Death toll grows to 71, missing list grows to 1,011

The Camp Fire is the most deadly and destructive wildfire in California history. More than a week after it broke out, the fire is 45 percent contained. Video by Gabrielle Lurie, Jessica Christian and Santiago Mejia. Edited by Alix Martichoux.

Video: SFGATE

CHICO, Butte County — An additional eight human remains were recovered in the Camp Fire disaster, bringing the death toll to 71, fire officials said at a Friday evening news conference.

The number of missing people in California’s most deadly and destructive fire is now 1,011, officials said.

“This is a dynamic list — it will fluctuate every day,” said Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea, cautioning that the number reflects raw data and may include duplicate names. On Thursday, the list of missing stood at 631.

Honea said the list changes because people are emailing information and calling the phone numbers the sheriff’s office has given out in past few days.

The fire has grown to 146,000 acres and is now 50 percent contained. It has destroyed a total of 12,263 buildings, including 9,700 single family homes and 336 commercial structures.

7of 67A downed telephone pole off of Elliott Road after the Camp Fire tore through the town of Paradise, California, on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.Photo: Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle

8of 67An incinerated vehicle is seen abadoned in the middle of Pearson Road after the Camp Fire ravaged the town of Paradise, California, on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.Photo: Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

9of 67Evacuee Suzanne Kaksonen nuzzles her cockatoo Buddy after sleeping in a tent a week after fleeing Paradise where the Camp Fire destroyed her home in Chico, California, on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018.She stayed in a tent near the parking lot at Walmart along with many others as it acted as a makeshift evacuation site.Photo: Gabrielle Lurie, The Chronicle

10of 67Sheriff's deputies yell to drivers to evacuate the area off of Pentz Road during the Camp Fire in Paradise, California, on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.Photo: Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

19of 67Evacuees Gary Vail embraces wife Janice Vail as they sit in their car after sleeping there and after escaping their home from the Camp Fire at a makeshift evacuation site at Walmart in Chico, California, on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018.Photo: Gabrielle Lurie, The Chronicle

20of 67Evacuee Ron Irick sits in a friends car after sleeping there with his newly rescued dog Jojo after escaping his home in Magalia from the Camp Fire at a makeshift evacuation site at Walmart in Chico, California, on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018.Photo: Gabrielle Lurie, The Chronicle

31of 67A half melted statue of Jesus is seen at Troy Miller's property after the Camp Fire tore through the area on Concow Road in Concow, California, on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018.Photo: Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

35of 67Troy Miller who survived the Camp Fire in what he called a "miraculous act of God" recounts his experience of making it through the fire on Concow Road in Concow, California, on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018.Photo: Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

36of 67Greg Woodcox poses for a portrait with his dogs, Romey and Jules, after recounting his harrowing escape from Edgewood Lane from the Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. while standing near his Jeep watching the fire from Chico Airport in Chico, Calif. Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018Photo: Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

37of 67Members of the San Francisco Fire Department gather together to check out an area map in Paradise, Calif. Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018 before surveying areas where Camp Fire ripped through the town of Paradise, Calif.Photo: Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

39of 67Alameda County Sheriff's Dept. Sgt. Howard Baron looks in a burned vehicle while searching for fire victims in the Rocky Lane Mobile Home Park in aftermath of Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. on Monday, November 12, 2018.Photo: Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

40of 67A water meter is seen melted outside of a home that once stood on Billie Road after the Camp Fire devastated the entire town of Paradise, Calif. Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018.Photo: Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

41of 67Animal volunteer evacuator Tamara Houston, left, comforts Cathy Fallon outside Fallon's home Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018. Fallon survived the Camp Fire while bunkering down in her home on Edgewood Lane after the Camp Fire ripped through the town of Paradise, Calif.Photo: Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

42of 67A horse is seen badly burned with chunks of its mane missing after being left behind when the Camp Fire ripped through Paradise, Calif. Maple Leaf Lane Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. A group of local volunteers soon came to rescue it and seven others.Photo: Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

43of 67Brad Weldon checks on his mother, Norma Weldon, 90, as they stay inside their home after the Camp Fire devastated the entire town of Paradise, Calif. Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. Weldon stayed in his home with his 90-year-old mother, Norma Weldon, and roommate, Mic McCrary, as the fire overtook their entire neighborhood while leaving his home untouched.Photo: Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

47of 67Brad Weldon carries water dropped off by passerbys back to his home, through his neighborhood that was destroyed after the Camp Fire devastated the entire town of Paradise, Calif. Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. Weldon stayed in his home with his 90-year-old mother, Norma Weldon, and roommate, Mic McCrary, as the fire overtook their entire neighborhood while leaving his home untouched.Photo: Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

54of 67Evacuee Jonathan Taylor stands on the road to take photos of the Camp Fire in Paradise, California, on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. His house and family business are in Paradise and he is concerned they will be gone when he goes back home.Photo: Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

67of 67CAL Fire and a search team survey the area on Friday, Nov. 16, 2018, in Paradise, Calif. The area was devastated by the Camp Fire.Photo: Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

Honea released the identities of two more victims: Paula Dodge, 70, and Randall Dodge, 67. They previously released the identities of three other victims: Carl Wiley, 77; Jesus Fernandez, 48; and Ernie Foss, 63.

Officials warned of increased fire danger this weekend: a red-flag warning has been issued for Saturday night to Sunday afternoon — due to expected strong wind gusts that could worsen the fire. Wind speeds are expected to be 45 to 55 mph.

But there is relief in sight: Next week on Wednesday and Thursday, rain is expected, which would greatly help firefighters get an upper hand. More than 200 days have passed since the area got rain.

Air quality is expected to remain poor through Saturday although it could improve slightly on Sunday, officials said.

More than 600 people are working in search-and-recovery teams that are scouring sites where missing people lived. As recovery efforts continued Friday, local and state authorities are preparing for the Saturday arrival of President Trump, although details of the visit have not been released. Trump, to be joined by Gov. Jerry Brown and Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom, is expected to visit victims of the state’s worst wildfire and survey the destruction.

Evan Sernoffsky is a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle specializing in criminal justice, crime and breaking news. He’s covered some of the biggest Bay Area news stories in recent memory, including wildfires, mass shootings and criminal justice reform efforts in San Francisco. He has given a voice to victims in some of the region’s biggest tragedies, carefully putting himself in challenging situations to make sure their stories are told. He works out of San Francisco’s Hall of Justice where he keeps watch on the city’s courts and hits the streets to expose the darker side of a city undergoing rapid change. He moved to the Bay Area from Oregon where he grew up and worked as a journalist for several years.